Mkak, box, birchbark

Mkak, box, birchbark

Mkak, box, birchbark

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Introduction

This relative is a wiigwaas (birchbark) box decorated with gaak/ganheˀdaˀ (porcupine) quillwork and cedar root with floral and leaf motifs. There is a flyer inside, written by Chief Chas. Pokagon, dated May 21 1900, describing birchbark quillwork.

This relative currently resides at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. 

Name of Maker(s): Unrecorded
Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

The catalogue card says the box is "Chippewa."

Date Made or Date Range: before 1940
Materials

birch bark; porcupine quills white and dyed yellow; spruce or cedar root; basswood.

Techniques or Format

The box is made of white birch bark, decorated with porcupine quillwork.
The edging is cedar or spruce root. The sewing around the top edge holding the root to the bark basket is also done with a thread of root. The lid is tacked to the top in three places, with basswood twine.
The root edging along the sides and bottom is held down at regular points with white porcupine quill X's.
The basswood twine is double-twisted.

Motifs and Patterns

Floral and leaf motifs.

Other Notes

Museum catalogue/accession number may be 40-12-6 rather than 40-26-6.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 40-26-6
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1940
Source for Provenance information

Museum documentation.

GKS Reference Number: 26289
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Mkak, box, birchbark. GRASAC ID 26289. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 40-26-6.

Record Creation Context

This record was created based on information and images collected during a GRASAC researcher site visit to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, on May 5, 2010.
This record was augmented by Dana Murray on August 5, 2025.

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